We often think of a leader as being the person at the front of the room, the one calling the shots. I’ve heard, though, that it’s possible to lead from the back of the room, too. What if there is still another form of leadership that could really apply to everyone?
I am learning that I am providing leadership whether I want to or not. My guide dog instructors told me my new dog would always be looking to me for leadership. But I couldn’t picture what that meant and I’m having to learn about it from experience.
The kind of leadership I provide for my guide dog is similar to leadership we can use with other people every day. Specifically, I’m having an effect just by being a certain way. My “being-ness” effects her greatly. She can read me like a book.
When I’m confident, she is more relaxed. When I’m feeling unsure, she gets off-track and becomes easily distracted. When I am comfortable knowing I know what to do if something goes wrong, things just go smoother.
Maybe you think the analogy is a stretch, but I think it’s right on. Consider the last time you gave a presentation. Didn’t your state of mind totally determine how well it went? How about having a serious conversation with someone to resolve an issue? Did your level of confidence or your expectations change the outcome?
As people, we are sizing eachother up all the time. So, we will get more of the results we want when we are approaching other people with clear expectations and desired outcomes. We’ll experience more success when we have a plan and a reasonable confidence that things will go well.
How about you? Have you already seen what a difference your attitude and confidence can make? Do you have some room to grow in your own awareness of your being-ness and it’s subsequent effect on other people? That’s an important aspect of leadership.
